Box office: Disney Pixar feeling joy as 'Inside Out' opens big

Pixar must be feeling joy over the early box-office returns for the studio's latest film, "Inside Out." (Pixar)

There's little question what the dominant emotion at Disney and Pixar will be this weekend as their latest animated offering, "Inside Out," led the Friday box office with a take of $34.2 million.

"Inside Out" is on track for a better-than-expected opening weekend of close to $90 million, which would be the biggest debut of a Pixar original film. ("Toy Story 3" opened with a $110-million weekend in 2010.)

The film, which follows the personified feelings inside the head of an 11-year-old girl, received the best reviews of any studio offering this year. Audiences agreed with critics, giving "Inside Out" an A grade, per market research firm Cinemascore.

The debut was particularly impressive given that last week's box office behemoth, "Jurassic World," remained strong with moviegoers. The dinosaur adventure romp took in $29 million on its second Friday. Analysts put it on track for a $103-million weekend, which would push its domestic total north of $400 million.

The Inglewood-set "Dope," described by its producer as "black nerds in the 'hood," grossed $2.4 million Friday for a projected $6.5 million weekend. The Sundance favorite scored well with critics as well as audiences, who gave it an A- grade with Cinemascore.

"Spy," in its third weekend, took in $2.9 million on Friday. A projected $9.7-million weekend would push its cumulative total to $74 million.